Wildlife Specialist report

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large rivers, lakes and ponds, beaver build lodges in shallow water or dig dens in banks. In low elevation riparian habitats in South Dakota, beaver favor lodge sites with lower cattle grazing and deeper water close to steep banks (BISON-M 2010). Availability of food, particularly aspen, is an important determinant of habitat suitability for beavers. Dams are normally constructed of branches of riparian trees. However, other material may be utilized. For example, beaver occur at Apache Creek marsh in Catron County, New Mexico (Frey 1995). In the upper portion of this marsh riparian trees are largely absent. Here, beaver have constructed and maintained for many years a dam constructed entirely of emergent vegetation (primarily cattail) and mud (JKF, personal observation). Stains and Baker (1958) identified three essential features of habitat suitable for beaver: 1) a water supply at least equal to that which will flow freely through a one-inch pipe, 2) an ample food supply of trees and other plant materials, and 3) a location where disturbance by man is at a minimum. Aquatic habitat physical features.--Numerous physical features of lakes and streams influence suitability for occupation by beaver (BISON-M 2010). Certain sites with special topographic or edaphic conditions may permit continuous occupation by beavers. These sites provide a source of colonists for temporary occupation of patches of early successional deciduous trees, especially aspen, created by fire or other disturbance (BISON-M 2010). This species has been selected as a focal/management indicator species for small mammals that occur in low, middle, and high elevation riparian habitats with perennial water. For the analysis of this species the analysis indicators (road miles and acres of potential disturbance) will analyze the change in these habitats by alternative from the existing condition. White-nosed coati (Forest Service Sensitive Species Representative of Low and Middle Elevation Riparian Vegetation Cover Types)) –In the southwestern U.S. this species is typically found in canyons, usually near water, within oak-sycamore-walnut, oak-pine, or shrub-grass communities (NatureServe 2009). White-nosed coatis in Arizona concentrate in riparian habitats, primarily in the pinyon-oak-juniper woodlands, and may live in natural retreats such as rock crevices, cavities among tree roots, and caves or mines. In New Mexico, coatis inhabit canyons characterized by riparian vegetation such as sycamore and oaks. Elevation ranges from 1670 to 9450 ft (508-2879 m) with most sightings at intermediate altitudes from 5250 to 6900 ft (1600-2100 m) (Gompper 1995, BISON-M 2009). This species is a fairly common species on the Gila National Forest in the Burro Mountains, Gila River up to about the Forks Campground Area, San Francisco River Valley up to about Glenwood, and within the major tributaries of these larger rivers. Western red bat (Forest Service Sensitive Species Representative of Low and Middle Elevation Riparian Vegetation Cover Types) – Day roosts are typically in edge habitats adjacent to streams or open fields, in orchards, and sometimes in urban areas. They are associated with intact riparian habitat (particularly mature cottonwood, sycamore, oak, and walnut forest) below 6,500 feet elevation. Roost sites are generally obscured from view except from below, allowing the bat to drop downward for flight, and are generally located on the south or southwest side of a tree. Hibernation sites are 46
largely unknown, but it is thought they burrow into leaf litter or dense grass, similar to eastern red bats (Bat Conservation International 2009). Summer habitat associations include: coniferous forest; closed pinyon-juniper woodlands; open encinal oak; Great Basin shrublands; Mohave and Sonoran desert scrub; Chihuahuan desert grassland; short grass steppe; deciduous riparian forest including cottonwood, sycamore, walnut, and oak; dry and irrigated agricultural lands; mines and quarries; and urban habitats (Hoffmeister 1986). Arizona gray squirrel (Forest Service Sensitive Species Representative of Low and Middle Elevation Riparian Vegetation Cover Types) – This gray squirrel inhabits hardwood, mixed oak and pine forests. They are found in river valleys and canyons, and where black walnuts and acorns are abundant. Also found in cottonwood and sycamore groves. They make leaf nests in trees (NatureServe, 2009). The Arizona gray squirrel is primarily limited to the deciduous riparian forest of the Gila. We took one in Mogollon at the upper limit of its range (at 7,000 feet) from a ponderosa pine area (BISON-M, 2009). White-nosed coati, Western red bat, and Arizona gray squirrel have been selected as focal species for small mammals that occur in low and middle elevation riparian areas. For the analysis of this species the analysis indicators (road miles and acres of potential disturbance) will analyze the change in low and middle elevation riparian habitat by alternative from the existing condition. Small Mammal Summary: Table 27 list road associated and motorized trail factors related to small mammals for focal species that represent this group (Gaines et al. 2003); analysis factors based on the analysis factor discussed above; and the indicator that will be used to compare the different levels of affect between the different alternatives. Table 27: Focal Group/ Species Small Mammals Road Associated Motorized Trail Combined Analysis Analysis Factors Associated Factors Factors Indicator Collisions, Trapping Collisions Harvest/Direct Effects Miles Disturbance, Displacement, Avoidance, Harassment Disturbance, Displacement, Avoidance, Harassment Disturbance/Indirect Effects Disturbance Zone Summarized In Acres Table 28 summarizes the harvest indicator, disturbance indicator, and analysis area that will be used to analyze the effects of the different alternatives to small mammals. 47
Page 1 and 2: Gila National Forest Travel Managem
Page 3 and 4: that are on the Regional Forester S
Page 5 and 6: ALTERNATIVES and MITIGATION MEASURE
Page 7 and 8: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT The Gila Natio
Page 9 and 10: In 1977, a study was published by a
Page 11 and 12: Regional Forester Sensitive Species
Page 13 and 14: MacGillivray’s Warbler HP Painted
Page 15 and 16: Barriers to Animal Travel or Moveme
Page 17 and 18: occupied sites, etc.). For habitat
Page 19 and 20: Issues identified during scoping re
Page 21 and 22: Elk (Game Species identified as spe
Page 23 and 24: Table 12 summarizes the harvest ind
Page 25 and 26: Table 14: Pronghorn Analysis Area -
Page 27 and 28: Bighorn Sheep (Forest Service Sensi
Page 29 and 30: Mule Deer (Gila Management Indicato
Page 31 and 32: Wide Ranging Carnivores Table19: Wi
Page 33 and 34: from a road, except when feeding. K
Page 35 and 36: HUC 1303020202 Hot/Cold Springs 195
Page 37 and 38: Percent Change -0.17% -20.66% -45.4
Page 39 and 40: Mountain Lion and Black Bear (game
Page 41 and 42: So under this alternative through t
Page 43 and 44: microhabitat in the desert landscap
Page 45: Southern red-backed vole (Forest Se
Page 49 and 50: Small Mammals-Effects by Alternativ
Page 51 and 52: Beaver (Gila Management Indicator S
Page 53 and 54: White-nosed Coati, Western Red Bat,
Page 55 and 56: 2% in the Hooded Skunk and Botta’
Page 57 and 58: The literature documents that a lar
Page 59 and 60: iparian (cottonwood/sycamore), and
Page 61 and 62: Reptiles and Amphibians-Effects by
Page 63 and 64: effects to the species and its habi
Page 65 and 66: Arizona Toad and Narrow Headed Gart
Page 67 and 68: Under this alternative you continue
Page 69 and 70: from grassland areas, and game bird
Page 71 and 72: Spotted Owl and determined that roa
Page 73 and 74: and Miller, 1997, Hamann et al, 199
Page 75 and 76: Shrub/Grassland vegetation types, a
Page 77 and 78: Table 49: Mexican Spotted Owl Criti
Page 79 and 80: The potential disturbance area in P
Page 81 and 82: Table 51: Mexican spotted owl feder
Page 83 and 84: Northern Goshawk (Gila MIS Species,
Page 85 and 86: Peregrine Falcon (Forest Service Se
Page 87 and 88: dates the species’ successful nes
Page 89 and 90: NMPIF High-Priority Species Alt. B
Page 91 and 92: Cavity Nesting Birds-Effects by Alt
Page 93 and 94: Findings: Table66: Hairy woodpecker
Page 95 and 96: 2008). The GBMA is primarily manage
Page 97 and 98:
trees, and succulents dominated by
Page 99 and 100:
New Mexico, where it is resident in
Page 101 and 102:
Table 71: Analysis Area - Existing
Page 103 and 104:
In these analysis areas the area of
Page 105 and 106:
Neotropic Cormorant (Forest Service
Page 107 and 108:
the Wilson’s phalarope analysis a
Page 109 and 110:
NMPIF High Priority Species Common
Page 111 and 112:
Gray Vireo (Forest Service Sensitiv
Page 113 and 114:
Song Bird Summary: Table 82 list ro
Page 115 and 116:
Costa’s Hummingbird (Forest Servi
Page 117 and 118:
Plains Titmouse (Forest Service Sen
Page 119 and 120:
For the focal species and their ass
Page 121 and 122:
the forest edge (New Mexico Partner
Page 123 and 124:
conifers with dense foliage. Limiti
Page 125 and 126:
Merriam’s Wild Turkey (Ponderosa
Page 127 and 128:
Findings: Table 96: Mearn’s quail
Page 129 and 130:
showed an increase in numbers from
Page 131 and 132:
Insect - Effects by Alternative A M
Page 133 and 134:
Dashed Ringtail (Forest Service Sen
Page 135 and 136:
area. These routes continue to caus
Page 137 and 138:
ecreational activities, game manage
Page 139 and 140:
6 th codes remains between 1.5 to 2
Page 141 and 142:
Table 107: 5th Code 6th Code Waters
Page 143 and 144:
MSO PACs Analysis Area 187,083 Acre
Page 145 and 146:
HUC 1302020804 Alamocito Canyon Tot
Page 147 and 148:
6th Code Watershed Alt B Alt C Alt
Page 149 and 150:
Forest Plan and Other Laws and Regu
Page 151 and 152:
Topic Threatened & Endangered Speci
Page 153 and 154:
Appendix A Gila National Forest Neo
Page 155 and 156:
Oak-Juniper Acorn Woodpecker Dark-e
Page 157 and 158:
Ponderosa Pine Acorn Woodpecker Chi
Page 159:
Marsh/Open American Avocet Clark’
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